Musiciens

Julie Gramolini Williams

Julie Gramolini Williams joined the Minnesota Orchestra in September 2007 after two seasons as a member of the Omaha Symphony. She previously held the principal oboe post with the United States Air Force Band of the West, stationed in San Antonio, Texas. During her enlistment, she was a soloist with the concert band, and she performed and toured with the Southwest Winds Woodwind Quintet.

The New York Times applauded Julie for her February 2014 performances with the Minnesota Orchestra, reporting, “Julie Gramolini Williams needs to be singled out for her excellent oboe solos in both the Strauss [Don Juan] and the Beethoven [Symphony 3] in both concerts.” In addition to orchestral and chamber music concerts with her Minnesota Orchestra colleagues, Julie has performed with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, the Omaha Symphony, the San Antonio Symphony, and the IRIS Orchestra in the past few years. She has also recently performed with the Lakes Area Music Festival in Brainerd, MN and the Music on the Hill Festival in Rhode Island.

Gramolini began studying the oboe at the age of 11 in her hometown of North Smithfield, Rhode Island. She received a bachelor of music degree from Oberlin College, studying with James Caldwell, and a master of music degree from Rice University, where her principal teacher was Robert Atherholt. After completing graduate studies, she continued honing her skills under the tutelage of Mark Ackerman. She lives in Plymouth with her husband, Gregory Williams, the Minnesota Orchestra’s acting principal clarinetist.